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Food trip: Kiping

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Have you ever tried eating a decoration in your house? I have...

Now before you judge me as a weirdo, let me first tell you about the decoration that I ate...
This brightly-colored leaf-shaped decorative ornament is called a kiping. Nope, it is not made of plastic but of rice paste. It is considered an integral part of the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon.

So how is a kiping made?
Making a kiping is a process called pagkikipi. One must first collect mature leaves of either the kabal, cocoa, or umbrella tree. These leaves will be used as molds for the kiping, hence its shape. Each leaf can be used three times (you'll find out why later.)

Now to make the rice paste... Soak the rice for two hours until it becomes soft then ground it with water until it becomes paste-like. Add at least three packets of food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of rock salt for every ganta of rice. Speaking of rice, it is said that the laon variety of rice is the best to use in making kipings. According t…
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Location: Quezon, Philippines
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Being a Google Local Guide

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As a travel blogger, my main goal is to help my readers learn and discover more about the places that I have visited. On the other hand, I also help promote the places that I blog about.

It does not stop there though, last year, I was introduced to Google Local Guides. It is a global community of explorers whose mission is to improve Google Maps and promote different places around the world.



Joining this community fits right into my passion as a travel blogger. As a Google Local Guide, I can add, remove, edit, and review a place in Google Maps. I also have the capability to add photos and complete missing information like contact numbers, website, and other important details about the places on the map.

What makes being a Google Local Guide more exciting is its point system. Points are given for the following activities:


Uploading photosSharing reviewsAdding new placesFixing informationAnswering questionsEach activity earns you a specific amount of point(s). Here's the breakdown:

Maps …
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Location: Philippines
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Binondo Church - Manila

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Located in the District of Binondo in Manila, Binondo Church is an old church built during the Spanish Colonial era of the Philippines.
Binondo Church HistoryAlso known as Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, the church was built sometime in 1596 and was under the Dominican Order. The church was founded with the goal of converting the increasing population of Chinese traders and providing religious guidance to the people living in the area called Extramuros or outside of the wall. The "wall" of course refers to Intramuros.









The original church was built using wood as its primary material. A bigger church was constructed to what is now its present site sometime in the 18th century. In 1778, the termite-infested wood was replaced with nipa. The church sustained minor damages during the earthquake of 1863. Improvements to the church like the dome were built in 1781 and the current granite walls, octagonal bell tower, and facade in 1852.

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Location: Binondo, Manila, 1006 Metro Manila, Philippines
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5 Google Apps for the Modern-day Explorer

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Since the Age of Exploration, explorers always bring with them their trusted tools. These help them navigate, take notes, and of course survive their adventures. Centuries later, with the invention of smartphones and the internet, the tools of the modern-day explorers also improved.

For those who are not aware, Google has several Apps (applications) that fits the needs of these modern-day explorers. Here are 5 of the most useful Apps of Google for the modern-day explorer.

Similar to: A map

If you were asleep during your lesson about geography and map reading, don't fret. Google Maps is an easy to use app for your navigation needs. Just type down the name of your destination then click navigate and you'd already know the distance, estimated time of arrival, traffic conditions, and even alternate routes going to your desired destination. Oh and one last, it also talks like Dora's trusted map.


Similar to: A native guide/ translator

Centuries ago, some explorers kidnap natives to l…
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Location: Philippines
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Amgaleyguey Vegetable Terraces - Benguet

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Located in Barangay Amgaleyguey in Buguias, Benguet, Amgaleyguey Vegetable Terraces is a little known place of culture and history.

Overshadowed by the fame of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, the Amgaleyguey Vegetable Terraces is rarely visited by tourists. As a matter of fact, you won't see it in any travel blogs or tourist books. To those who have seen this place, they could attest that it is equally beautiful as its counterparts in Ifugao. What makes it unique is the obvious fact that vegetables are the crops planted on the terraces instead of rice. What makes it more unique are the above-ground tombs that dot the terraces like dandruff on a green shirt from a distance.

The culture of burying relative on the terraces dates to the Pre-Spanish Period. Practicality would suggest that since the indigenous people live on mountain tops, it would be a great burden to transport a deceased loved one down a mountain for burial. What they did instead buried them in their backyards. Evidently, thi…
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Location: Buguias, Benguet, Philippines
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